Attorney General’s wife faces indictment for employing illegal foreign worker

Aviva Weinstein, the wife of Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, may be indicted for hiring an illegal foreign worker, the Justice Ministry stated Tuesday.

The National Immigration Authority recommended the indictment 10 days ago after conducting an investigation into Mrs. Weinstein’s alleged hiring of an illegal foreign worker. Deputy prosecutor Shuki Lamberger, who is in charge of the case, is considering putting her on trial, or alternatively issuing a fine.

Authorities learned that Weinstein hired the Indian national about 18 months ago. By September of last year, the National Immigration Authority had gained enough evidence to press charges, Maariv reported.

Weinstein reportedly asked her employee if he was permitted to work in the country — and he said yes — but failed to check further. He was employed for approximately one year and was let go around the time Weinstein became attorney general.

The former employee is no longer in the country, but authorities had a chance to question him before he left.

Nili Priel, wife of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, came under fire in late 2010 for hiring an illegal foreign worker as a housekeeper. That case is still being reviewed by the judicial authorities.